How Social Networking Can Help You With Market Preparation
More and more people are trying to figure out what social networking is all about. I will raise my hand and tell you that I am one of those people. I have profiles in Linked In for business contacts, Facebook for personal and business contacts, Twitter for I don’t know what, and YouTube for videos I do.And then of course I have my blog at www.MikeRoot.com to tell the world some of the stuff I am working on in case they want to get to know me better. They find links to my various websites, my product offerings, my newsletters, etc.
So the question is how do you use this information as a furniture rep or for that matter anyone else in the furniture industry in a business to business way. Here are a couple of examples I have used this week to exploit the power of these new communication methods:
1. On my blog I posted all of our spaces and contact information. If anyone was looking for me at market, they can go to MikeRoot.com and know where to track me down.
2. I communicated with buyers through Linked In with follow up information and space numbers. Since we are connected, they are more likely to respond in a favorable way to a social network, person to person communication versus an email blast. It takes time to build the networks but it is a far more exciting communication tool than regular email.
3. This last week we began representing a new line in our package. I sent this to all my social network sites. It allowed me to get the word out fast and may connect with some people I didn’t immediately think about telling.
Those are just a few ways I used the social networking this week. If you would like to connect with me on any of the platforms either to stay in touch or watch as I fumble through, feel free to contact me in one of the following social network environments:
www.Facebook.com/MikeRoot
www.LinkedIn.com/In/MikeRoot
www.Twitter.com/meroot
www.YouTube.com/meroot
www.MikeRoot.com
Big M commented:
It's interesting to look at Thomasville who eliminated Reps and Drexel in the process and Broyhill who has been reducing Reps and is again, and look what happened to business-it dropped much more than it should have. The problem is when you get Bean Counters running companies-RUN!
RepFurniture commented:
LinkedIn has really helped communicate and expose RepFurniture.com, which is a new and free website for furniture Sales Reps and Sales Managers. Dealers are using LinkedIn also.
milt emold commented:
once again,look what happened to t ville and simmons and sealy ,no reps lost big market share.no reps in some cases. look at companies why only catalogon line or price list on line,again spesial order biz goes away sales associates dontwant to go to hassel of going to webb.i am witness to it daily.,networking is great to answer questions ,share jokes recieve answers from factory we do it every day.but when it comes to everday sales you must be there to speask to buyers,sales people warehouse folk and the rest.these people are maim sources of info,it will make us all better reps in todays market.all of other is fine,but blocking and tackling win games
Rick Pregent commented:
Mike, I have been thinking about these same ideas lately. I know there are rewards to be found in better communication to our dealers. I look foward to reading about your successes.
Mike Root commented:
I fully agree that the old ways of personal sales face to face are still the best. Social networking just gives you an additional means of communicating with the dealer on a consistent basis.
Additionally, the younger buyers and sales people are very comfortable with the computers. As they become more involved in the buying process or recommending what is bought, this is one more way to help the awareness of your brands.
milt emold commented:
mike in wis many of our dealers still dont use computers for anything to communicate with.also look at oppurtunity you get as a rep when your face to face or on phone.they cant push delete button
